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B   M   SDD   ^3S 
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GIFT   OF 


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Dreams  and  Visions 

OF 

An  Engineer 


By 


Hiram  N.  Smades 


•  1  . '  •  .  ,  ^ 
"  J  •  ,>  »  >  • 
>  >  >  *  I    * 


Copyright,  1920  by  H.  N.  Smades 


•*     »■     *■    *  »  •'    •'       ♦' 


TO  THE  El^QlhlEERS  OF  AMERICA 


This  is  the  work  of 

A  Mechanic 

and  published  by  request 

of  friends 


'  ,  J  ■ .  >  ,  > 
J  >  1  )  J    »  » 


a  •  •    »   a 


* .    *        * 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHOR 
WATTS,  CALIFORNIA 


'?i" 


•■  „  *  a.  ••*,  .,  • 
'  •  •  •,  •  .  « 
.  »    «       «       • « 


■*         *    T   »     • 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Glad  Spring   |^ 

Youth  |i 

I  Think  of  You ^ J 

The  Robber ^^ 

On  the  Old  St.  Lawrence |' 

Gone  to  the  Hills ^^ 

Dear  Old  Clothes ^" 

Jack  and  I ^^ 

The  Exit   ;^ 

Away  With  Fear ^* 

In  Childhood   ^^ 

Los  Angeles  ^ ' 

They  Are  Gone 5° 

The  Man  With  a  Million ^y 

Destruction ^^ 

A  Nightmare   ^^ 

The  Restless  Sea ^^ 

The  After  Glow  ^^ 

Hiram's  Trumpet ^' 

Reverie   ^^ 

Our  Mansion   j^ 

The  Angel's  Whisper  ^i 

Heart   Throbs    j^ 

On  to  Berlin  ! ^c 

Reflections  of  a  Tramp ^^ 

Transformation   j' 

God  Help  the  Poor ^° 

The  Storm    f^ 

Sweetly  They  Sleep ^^ 

The  Skeleton's  Ball   ^^ 

Flour  Gravy  ^^ 

What  Is  Man? JH 

Thanksgiving   ^' 

To  A  Millionaire   ^^ 

The  Answers  That  Came "U 

Joy  and  Woe ^J 

The  Mystery   ^^ 

Back  at  the  Farm °^ 

Transmigration   °^ 

To  An  Actress ^'* 


f  >t^  /C  Ai  O  U 


PAGE 

ingersoll  85 

Winter   86 

The  Water  Spout 87 

Flames   88 

None  Are  Lost 89 

Long  and  Black 90 

The  Winds    91 

A  Whisper    92 

Rise  0  Hope  ! 93 

Rats 94 

In  Connecticut  95 

Lake  Michigan  in  November 96 

By  the  Mystic  Sea 97 

Farewell    98 

In  the  Golden  Glow 99 

Ice   Locked 100 

Like    Birds    Departing 101 

She  Lifts  Her  Head 102 

Cloud  Ships   103 

The  First  Snow   104 

Through  the   Storm 105 

Hallelujah   106 

Under  Broad  Elms 107 

Nature  Is  Turning 108 

Comrades    109 

A  Fable  112 

Conundrum    113 

The  Ant    113 

My  Choice  114 

To  a  Woman 114 

Why?  115 

Why  is  This? 115 

Borrowed  Garments  116 

The  Power  Behind  the  Pen 116 

Wounds    117 

Self- Appointed  Judges   117 

I'D  Rather  be  Slapped 118 

When  Fashion  Rules 118 

The  Devil's    Corkscrew 119 

Dreams  Will  Live 122 

Farewell  123 


®l|e  Autlinr 


The  author  of  this  little  volume  opened  his  eyes  to  the 
light  of  this  world  July  25,  1839,  on  the  old  Smades  home- 
stead on  the  bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence  river,  three  miles 
from  Prescott,  in  Ontario,  Canada.  He  was  the  youngest 
of  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  girls  and  three  boys.  At 
the  age  of  eight  years  his  father  and  mother  had  both 
passed  away  and  he  went  to  make  his  home  with  an  uncle 
who  was  a  farmer.  Here  the  lad  developed  into  a  husky 
youth,  who,  reaping  and  binding  in  the  harvest  fields,  kept 
up  with  the  fastest  cradlers.  Early  in  life  his  mechanical 
ability  was  demonstrated,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left 
the  fields  for  the  city,  where  he  went  into  the  shop  of  James 
Turmbull,  a  skilled  ironworker  and  blacksmith.  After  a 
year  in  this  place,  the  youth  could  forge  as  good  a  horse 
shoe  or  nail  as  the  masters  of  the  art,  and  he  began  to  look 
about  for  another  line  of  work.  It  was  while  in  this  shop 
he  decided  to  be  an  engineer.  With  longing  eyes  he  had 
watched  the  steamboats  plying  up  and  down  the  St.  Law- 
rence river.  They  seemed  calling  him,  and  answering  the 
call  he  crossed  the  river  and  in  the  shops  at  Ogdensburg 
began  the  schooling  for  his  life  work.  He  worked  in  a  num- 
ber of  different  places  before  finishing  his  mechanical  edu- 
cation, one  of  them  a  great  concern  in  New  York  where 
he  helped  build  the  ponderous  engines  for  the  sea-going 


steamships  of  that  day.  He  was  yet  scarce  more  than  a 
youth  when  he  had  received  his  papers  and  was  first  en- 
gineer on  one  of  the  steamers  of  the  Great  Lakes.  After 
some  years  of  engineer  service  in  the  North  and  East,  he 
went  to  the  great  Southwest,  where  he  put  in  some  of  the 
largest  mills  in  this  vast  new  timber  region.  Later  he  went 
into  the  machinery  and  manufacturing  business  for  himself. 
As  an  engineer  his  service  to  his  fellow  men  was  not  only 
that  of  a  constructive  force  in  the  world  of  industry,  but  a 
force  in  the  moral  world.  With  pen  and  purse  he  fought 
the  legalized  Liquor  Traflfic  until  the  day  of  its  downfall. 
During  the  years  his  travels  have  been  wide  and  his  days 
crowded  with  toil.  Yet  he  has  given  expression  to  some 
of  the  thoughts  that  have  come  to  him.  From  a  consider- 
able accumulation  of  printed  verse  and  unprinted  frag- 
ments, written  sometimes  beside  the  work  bench  with  toil- 
stained  hands,  and  sometimes  in  far  places  to  fill  lonely 
hours,  the  matter  which  has  been  selected  is  left  herewith 
with  the  reader. 


foutif 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


GLAD  SPRING 

A  rift  in  the  clouds 
And  the  sunbeams  dance 
And  a  thousand  songsters  sing. 
The  trees  are  blooming, 
The  blue  bells  wave. 
'Tis  spring  again, 
Glad  spring! 


Page  10 


,A^   I  6"  ^^^ 


.^.yU-i^. 


7 


i:iinitli 


.S<-f   Pagt-   11 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


YOUTH 

Ah!  I  have  castles  builded  high 
Upon  the  pillars  of  the  air: 

I  have  brave  ships  returning  home 
With  cargoes  rich  and  treasure  rare. 

And  as  I  sail  upon  the  sea 

When  storms  arise  and  billows  curl, 
I  dream  of  a  calm  haven  bright 

A  vine  clad  cottage  and  fair  girl. 


Page  11 


'Unsit 


Page  13 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


PRO  BONO  PUBLICO 

If  people  did  not  write  their  thoughts 
The  world  would  have  nothing  to  read. 


Page  U 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


I  THINK  OF  YOU 

I  think  of  you,  dear  heart,  I  think  of  you — 
At  morn,  when  the  new  sun  breaks  o'er  the  hill ; 

And  in  the  hush  of  eve  when  all  is  still. 

When  crickets  chirp  and  stars  peep  through  the  blue 

I  think  of  you,  dear  heart,  I  think  of  you. 

Back  through  the  vanished  years,  when  life  was  new 
We  wandered  hand  in  hand  through  fields  of  green ; 

We  hastened  on  and  on,  our  joys  unseen ; 
Your  joy  to  be  with  me,  mine  to  have  you. 

As  in  those  days,  dear  heart,  I  think  of  you. 

The  path  I  took  in  life  led  far  from  you : 
The  fleeting  years  have  taken  in  their  flight 
The  happy  days  that  I  recall  tonight. 
You  walk  afar  down  life's  gray  avenue 
Alone  like  me.    Dear  heart,  I  think  of  j'^ou. 


Page  15 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


THE  ROBBER 

Who  art  thou  who  dares  to  come  so  bold, 
With  steps  more  light  than  man  e'er  told, 
Unbidden,  to  my  drawing  room,  and  hall? 
Thy  covetous  eye's  been  drawn  I  fear 
By  silver  plate  and  jewel  casket  here; 
Black  villain!    Would  you  rob  us  of  our  all? 
Burglar  be  gone ! 

Sleep  comes  no  more  to  me  this  troubled  night, 
Though  jewels,  and  our  plate,  I  find  all  right. 
My  wife  wakes  not,  and  on  her  pillow  sleeps. 
Pacing  the  room  alone  with  crouching  fear 
I  feel  some  dark  intruder's  presence  here 
Who  lurks  within  and  through  our  chamber  creeps- 
Goblin  or  Ghost,  away! 

The  sleepless  night  is  gone  and  day  has  come 
With  shining  gladness,  and  with  insects  hum ; 
Then  thousand  sunbeams  dance  above  my  head. 
My  wife  sleeps  late.     I  go  to  wake  her  now — 
Laurett,  Laurett !  how  undisturbed  art  thou ! 
I  shake  her.    Gk)d!  she  lies  here  cold  and  dead. 
Alas!  the  robber,  the  robber! 


This  poem  first  appeared  in  the  Arljansas  Democrat.     It  was  widely  copied 
and  voted  one  of  the  best  current  short  poems. 

Page  16 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


ON  THE  OLD  ST.  LAWRENCE 

On  the  old  St.  Lawrence  River, 

Where  bright  waters  sparkling  through 
Mossy  islands  by  the  thousand 

Made  a  picture  fair  to  view ; 
Long  ago  two  boys  went  wading 

After  small  ships  on  play  seas ; 
Learned  the  swimming  holes,  and  later 

Pushed  their  light  canoe  with  ease ; 
Fished  for  bass  and  perch  and  sunfish, 

Learning  of  each,  curious  habits ; 
In  the  cedar  thickets  hunting — 

Shooting  squirrels,  partridge,  rabbits ; 
Coasting  down  the  snow  clad  hillside, 

Skating  on  the  frozen  bay^ 
Talking  summer  time  and  winter 

Of  the  wonders  far  away. 

•  •  •  •  • 

E'er  the  boyhood  play  days  ended. 

Pushed  were  they  from  the  home  nest; 
In  the  world  to  seek  their  fortunes 

One  went  East  and  one  went  West. 
One  fought  red-skins  on  the  praries, 

And  in  mountains  delved  for  gold, 
With  a  vision  of  a  print  shop 

When  his  life  should  be  less  bold. 


Page  n 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


One  turned  toward  the  ponderous  engine, 
Pushing  ships  where  billows  gleam, 

His  dream  to  hold  the  throttle 
Of  that  master-power  Steam. 

•  •  •  •  • 

On  the  old  St.  Lawrence  river, 

Where  bright  waters  sparkling  through 
Mossy  islands  by  the  thousand, 

Make  a  picture  fair  to  view — 
Gone  the  lads — and  gone  forever. 
From  their  haunts  along  the  river. 


Page  18 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


GONE  TO  THE  HILLS 

Gone  to  the  hills,  the  towering  hills, 

Where  nature's  treasures  vie. 
Where  worthless  rock  and  precious  ore 

In  heaps  together  lie. 

Gone  to  the  hills,  the  silent  hills, 
Where  buried  treasures  sleep. 

Where  rattlesnake  with  poisonous  fangs 
And  the  Gila  monsters  creep. 

Gone  to  the  hills,  God's  great  grand  hills, 

Where  mountain  lions  prowl ; 
And  wild  cats  pounce  upon  the  quail, 

And  hungry  coyotes  howl. 

Gone  to  the  hills,  the  rock-crowned  hills, 

Where  honey  sages  grow; 
And  hum  of  bees  is  on  the  trees 

Filling  their  sacks  to  go. 

Gone  to  the  hills,  eternal  hills, 

God's  gateways  to  the  sky ; 
The  finest  place  on  earth  to  live 

And  safest  place  to  die. 


Paye  19 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


DEAR  OLD  CLOTHES 

I  have  worn  them  every  day 
Through  the  toil  and  through  the  fray ; 
They've  come  with  me  all  the  way — 
Dear  old  clothes! 

Now  they're  worn  and  soiled  and  old, 
And  for  junk  they  should  be  sold. 
Yet  I'll  not  trade  them  for  gold : 
Dear  old  clothes! 

Wife  says,  "Give  them  to  the  poor — 
Please  don't  wear  them  any  more," 
It's  a  thought  I  can't  endure ! 
Dear  old  clothes! 

I  dress  up,  though,  once  a  week; 
Go  and  hear  the  preacher  speak. 
Home  again  I  straightway  seek, 
Dear  old  clothes! 

Not  afraid  to  get  them  soiled. 
Not  afraid  to  get  them  spoiled. 
They've  been  with  me  while  I  toiled, 
Dear  old  clothes! 

I  have  worn  them  every  day: 
They've  come  with  me  all  the  way, 
Through  the  toil  and  through  the  fray, 
Dear  old  clothes! 


Page  20 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


JACK  AND  I 

Our  home  is  a  shack  in  the  canyon  wild, 
Our  neighbors,  coyote  and  deer; 

You  can  bet  your  boots,  and  be  sure  to  win, 
There  are  no  police  nor  courts  out  here — 
For  Jack  and  I. 

Hope  leads  us  on  with  a  master  hand 
And  we  smite  the  flint-like  ledge ; 

Our  treasures  are  yet  still  farther  in, 
And  we  drive  the  opening  w^edge — 
Jack  and  I. 

With  heads  that  are  bald  and  gray. 

And  with  limbs  that  are  lank  and  thin ; 

O'er  dynamite  drills  and  sledge 
We  are  driving  the  tunnel  in — 
Jack  and  I. 

With  feet  that  are  calloused  and  worn, 
And  hands  that  are  bony  and  thin; 

With  fuse  and  cap  and  tamping  bar 
We  are  driving  the  tunnel  in — 
Jack  and  I. 


Page  Zt 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


The  coyote  screams  his  midnight  song, 
And  the  owls  they  holler  "Hoo-hoo!" 

And  the  mountain  lions  give  us  a  call 

At  night  when  our  daily  toil  is  through — 
Jack  and  I. 

We  sing  as  we  shatter  the  flinty  rock ; 

Yes,  better  to  sing  than  to  weep. 
Sometimes  we  wonder  why  God  in  his  love 

Has  buried  his  treasures  so  deep — 
Jack  and  I. 

Wild  animals  sport  o'er  the  hills  and  the  plain, 
And  the  sheep  lie  at  rest  in  the  fold ; 

It  is  only  man  that  wears  himself  out 
With  his  love  and  his  greed  for  gold, 
Like  Jack  and  I, 


Page  fti 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  EXIT. 

Just  say,  "He  loved  the  children," 
When  you  lay  my  bones  away; 

And  you  needn't  mind  the  flowers, 
And  you  needn't  sing  and  pray. 

And  forget  the  dark  things  whispered 
That  would  cloud  the  fairest  day; 

And  you  needn't  wonder  where  I've  gone 
When  I  leave  my  friends  to  stay. 

I've  met  none  with  angel  pinions, 
While  traveling  down  life's  way: 

The  wings  come  at  the  hatching  time 
When  our  shells  are  cast  away. 

So  you  needn't  bring  sweet  flowers. 
Sing  gospel  songs,  nor  pray. 

Just  say,  "He  loved  the  children," 
W^hen  my  bones  are  laid  away. 


Page  23 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


AWAY  WITH  FEAR 

Come  Reason,  come  and  spirits  free, 

Come  sit  with  me  and  write : 
Dark  superstition's  sway  must  end. 

Come !    Help  turn  on  the  light ! 
Truth's  flood  gates  help  me  open  wide 

To  turn  back  superstition's  tide. 

When  man  was  young  'twas  told  to  him 

That  God  said  this  and  God  said  that 
And  thus  the  wily  priest  had  birth 

And  soon  became  an  autocrat 
To  rob  the  worker  of  his  toil. 
He  robbed  his  prey  of  power  and  soil 
By  holding  fear  above  his  head. 
And  cowing  him  with  curses  dread. 

Away  with  hell  where  devils  dwell 

And  fumes  of  sulphur  rise ! 
Away  with  purgatorial  fire 

And  kindred  frightful  lies. 
No  hell  can  Truth's  clear  searchlight  find 
Except  the  fear  in  man's  own  mind. 


Page  2i 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


IN  CHILDHOOD 

Oh  Memory  that  brings  back  youth 
And  our  childhood's  happy  hour. 

In  looking:  back  through  vanished  years  I  sometimes  live 

life  over, 
And  romp  with  happy  heart  again  with  one  I  called  my 

lover. 
Wherever  she  was  I  would  be,  at  her  home  or  at  mine; 
I  was  the  trellis  open  armed  and  she  the  clinging  vine. 

We  had  our  playhouse  neath  a  tree  where  happiness  was 

rife; 
I  was  the  mighty  lord  of  earth  and  she  the  little  wife : 
I  came  to  dinner  on  a  day  and  found  a  great  surprise — 
She's  carried  water,  mixed  the  mud  and  made  a  batch  of 

pies. 

We  taught  young  chickens  how  to  swim  in  mother's  old 
rain  barrel. 

When  apple  blossoms  fragrant  hung  and  robins  used  to 
carol : 

W^e  gathered  from  the  meadow's  breast  the  dandelions  that 
glitter ; 

We  saw  the  bluebirds  build  their  nests  and  heard  the  swal- 
lows twitter. 


Parte  25 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


But  sadness  came  to  us  one  day,  my  little  mate  and  I, 

I  quarreled  with  her  o'er  a  toy  and  made  her  pout  and  cry. 

But  we  "made  up"  and  friends  again  we  took  each  other's 

hand, 
And  sat  down  to  amuse  ourselves  by  printing  in  the  sand. 

We  waded  in  the  brook  near  by,  with  eels  and  minnows 

brimming ; 
Sometimes  we'd  both  lie  down  and  play  that  we  were  grandly 

swimming. 
When  hungry  we  would  loiter  home,  wet  and  with  clothing 

dripping — 
Our  mothers  would  look  cross  at  us — sometimes  we  got  a 

whipping. 

Thus  looking  back  through  long  gone  years,  in  age  I  live 

life  over, 
And  romp  with  happy  heart  again  beside  my  dark-eyed 

lover. 
Wherever  she  was  I  would  be,  at  her  home  or  at  mine : 
I  was  the  trellis  strong  and  true  and  she  the  clinging  vine. 


Page  26 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


LOS  ANGELES 

You've  heard  of  that  heavenly  city, 
Where  spirts  of  good  people  go — 

A  city  of  mansions  bejewelled, 

Where  milk  and  honey  streams  flow. 

But  no  one  may  enter  that  city 

Save  through  the  dark  valley  of  fate, 

We  pass  through  the  gloom  of  Death  Valley 
Before  we  can  enter  its  gate. 

But  there  is  another  fair  city, 
Where  angels  oft  glide  to  and  fro 

In  chariots  (Not  drawn  by  horses), 
And  to  this  fair  realm  all  may  go — 

May  all  join  the  legions  of  angels 

That  crowd  from  the  North  and  the  East 

To  bask  in  the  glow  of  her  sunshine 
And  on  her  rich  fruitage  to  feast. 

0  wait  not  for  Time  with  his  sickle 
To  set  your  oppressed  spirit  free. 

But  haste  to  that  beautiful  city, 
That  reigns  by  the  Golden  West  sea. 


Pnffc , 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


THEY  ARE  GONE 

0  where  are  the  red  men  who  lived  where  we  live — 
Where  ferryboats  now  swiftly  ply  to  and  fro  ? 

They  paddled  their  birch  bark  canoes  in  the  stream, 
But  long  ago  went  where  the  wood  pigeons  go. 

The  war  whoop  no  longer  is  heard  on  the  plain, 

The  echo  has  died  over  forest  and  hill, 
The  braves  and  their  squaws  have  crossed  into  the  shades, 

The  war  dance  has  ceased  and  their  voices  are  still. 

The  ponies  they  rode  in  the  buffalo  chase 

Are  gone  like  the  game  and  no  tepee  fires  burn. 

The  red  men  have  crossed  to  the  shores  of  the  Styx 
In  shadow  canoes  that  will  never  return. 

The  greed  of  the  pale-face  with  covetous  hand. 
Read  law  to  the  redskin  with  powder  and  ball : 

Where  the  smoke  of  the  wigwam  once  rose  to  the  blue, 
The  skyscraper  stands  and  the  new  city  hall. 


PageSS 


1 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  MAN  WITH  A  MILLION 

Bowed  by  the  weight  of  covet  gold  he  leans 

Upon  his  cane  and  gazes  at  the  ground, 

The  greed  of  ages  lurking  in  his  soul, 

And  on  his  back  the  burden  of  the  world. 

Who  made  him  dead  to  charity  and  love, 

"A  thing  that  grieves  not  and  that  never  hopes?" 

Cunning  and  sly,  a  brother  to  the  fox, 

What  sculptor  carved  and  marked  his  selfish  brow? 

Who  snatched  humanity  from  out  his  breast 

And  plucked  the  sight  of  right  from  his  blind  eye? 

"Whose  breath  blew  out  the  light  within  this  brain?" 

"Is  this  the  thing  the  world  has  made,  and  gave 

To  have  dominion  over  lands  and  sea?" 

To  blast  the  rock  and  search  the  earth  for  power? 

Whose  only  cry  is,  "More!  0  give  me  more!" 

Is  this  the  man  He  made  who  planets  hung, 

And  pinned  stars  to  the  draped  blue  overhead? 

In  the  black  vaults  of  hell  to  its  last  pit 

"There  is  no  shape  more  terrible  than  this" — 

More  fraught  with  censure  by  an  outraged  world. 

What  gulfs  between  him  and  a  God  of  love? 

Slave  to  the  wheel  of  wealth!    What  means  to  him 

The  man  with  hoe  or  woodman  with  his  ax? 

What  means  to  him,  the  tassled,  silken  corn? 


Page  29 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


Or  forest  teeming  with  the  singing  birds? 

The  glory  of  a  setting  western  sun, 

Or  rattling  music  of  electric  storm? 

He  hears  no  anthem  in  the  wings  of  bees; 

Nor  drinks  the  breath  of  blushing  clover  blooms. 

At  his  grim  form  the  toiling  masses  gaze, 

By  his  dread  shape  humanity  betrayed, 

Defrauded,  plundered,  disinherited. 

Cries  to  the  judge,  falls  at  the  judge's  feet. 

The  laws  are  his — and  he  with  law  consumes. 

While  the  real  life  of  empires  and  of  states 

Leans  on  his  mortgaged  hoe  and  dreams  and  thinks 

Of  his  posterity  and  hopeless  fate, 

0  Thinkers!     Patriots!    Toilers  of  all  lands! 

How  will  the  future  reckon  with  this  man 

Whose  iron  heel  has  crushed  the  toiler's  neck? 

How  nourish  his  brute  passion  in  that  hour 

When  earthquakes  of  rebellion  shake  the  world. 

When  cyclones  of  despair  shall  sweep  the  earth 

And  fiery  tongues  lick  palaces  and  wealth? 

When  ships  may  sail  on  tossing  seas  of  blood, 

When  great  Jehovah  purges  earth  once  more? 


Page  30 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


Restoring  its  fair  wealth  to  common  folk 
When  the  oppression  of  the  years  is  done. 

Go  to,  0  rich  man!    Weep  and  howl  and  pray! 
Your  misery  shall  come  upon  you  soon. 
Your  riches  are  corrupt,  your  garments  frail. 
Your  gold  and  silver  cankered,  and  the  rust 
Of  them  shall  be  a  witness  of  the  truth. 
Their  rust  shall  eat  your  flesh  as  if  with  fire. 
Ye  have  reaped  treasures  only  for  this  earth. 
The  hire  of  laborers  who  reaped  your  fields 
Ye  have  kept  back  by  wolfish  greed  and  fraud. 
Their  voices  cry.    The  cry  has  entered  in 
The  ear  of  the  Just  One  who  made  us  all. 
Ye  have  but  lived  in  pleasure  on  the  earth — 
Ye  have  been  wanton  and  but  fed  your  hearts 
Against  a  day  of  slaughter.    Weep  and  pray — 
For  this  is  prophecy. 


Written    after    readlnp    Kdwin    Markham's    Man     Mith    the    Hoc.    and    first 
publislic'd  iu  the  Arkansas  Democrat. 

Paue  31 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


DESTRUCTION 

The  fairest  flower  the  green  earth  bears 

In  forest,  field  or  thicket 
Is  robbed  of  fragrance  and  of  life 

Because  you  deign  to  pick  it. 

The  gladdest  birds  the  good  God  made, 

From  ostrich  down  to  linnet, 
Give  up  the  plumage  and  their  lives 

To  deck  my  lady's  bonnet. 

The  little  kid,  that  skips  and  plays, 

That  everybody  loves — 
Is  killed  while  yet  his  life  is  young 

To  make  fair  lady's  gloves. 

And  cattle  by  the  million  head 

Their  harmless  lives  must  lose ; 
Their  bodies  to  the  butcher  shop 

Their  hides  worked  into  shoes. 

So  forests  vanish  from  the  earth ; 

Great  trees  in  countless  number 
Are  slaughtered  by  the  ax  and  saw 

That  we  may  have  our  lumber. 

And  men  by  million  multiplied 

Go  down  in  strife  and  war, 
And  seem  to  glory  in  the  wrecks 

All  good  men  should  abhor. 

Page  32 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


A  NIGHT-MARE 

I  had  plowed  all  day  through  rocks  and  roots 

With  my  father's  old  gray  mare; 
She  straddled  the  trace-chains  every  turn, 

And  of  course  it  made  me  swear; 
And  I  yanked  her  mouth  with  iron  bit, 

And  yelled  like  a  wretch  in  despair,  _ 
And  that  same  night  I  had  a  fright 

From  that  ghost  of  an  old  gray  mare. 

Was  I  hungry  that  night?    Well,  yes; 

And  I  ate  three  good  meals  in  one ; 
I  wadded  down  the  pork  and  beans — 

('Twere  better  I'd  eaten  none). 
Then  I  laid  me  down  for  a  good  night's  rest, 

While  stars  in  the  heavens  glow, 
But  spooks  came  down  from  heights  above. 

And  imps  came  up  from  below. 

I  heard  the  trace-chains  rattle  outside, 

Then  the  old  gray  mare  walked  in ; 
She  came  straight  up  beside  my  bed, 

And  she  gave  a  fiendish  grin. 
Her  eyes  looked  like  two  full-dip  moons. 

And  her  ears  lay  back  on  her  head ; 
Then  she  landed  on  me  with  all  four  feet 

And  trampled  me  down  in  the  bed. 


Page  S3 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


My  back  bowed  out  and  belly  caved  in 

As  she  danced  with  her  iron  shoes ; 
I  felt  like  a  dog  in  a  sausage  mill, 

With  no  better  fate  to  choose. 
Oh !  die  I  must,  and  then  be  cussed 

By  the  imps  and  the  old  gray  mare. 
And  I  gave  a  scream  in  my  horrible  dream, 

And  it  wakened  dad  in  despair. 

Dad  called,  "Why,  John,  what  ails  you  now? 

What  on  earth  can  the  matter  be?" 
I  said,  "Oh,  dad,  come  quick,  come  quick! 

The  old  mare's  in  the  bed  with  me!" 
Then  dad  walked  in,  with  lamp  in  hand, 

But  minus  working  jeans; 
He  said,  "My  boy,  guess  the  old  mare  came 

On  account  of  too  much  beans." 


Page  Si 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  RESTLESS  SEA 

The  sea  is  deep,  the  sea  is  wide, 
And  breakers  foam  on  every  side; 
God  walled  it  in  with  grains  of  sand 
To  hold  the  fruitful  valley  land. 

The  seagulls  soar  above  the  storm, 
While  shells  and  fishes  multiform 
Are  in  the  deep,  where  seaweeds  curl 
And  hide  the  beauties  of  the  pearl. 

Great  ships  upon  their  mission  go 
And  cross  the  tides  that  ebb  and  flow. 
When  storms  arise  the  ships  are  tossed — 
Sometimes  the  ships  and  crew  are  lost. 

The  sea  is  salt,  and  do  you  know 
What  makes  the  restless  ocean  so? 
When  sailors  drown  the  mermaids  weep — 
Salt  tears  make  up  the  mighty  deep. 


Page  So 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


THE  AFTER-GLOW 

A  star  dropped  down  from  among  the  stars 
And  lay  hidden  low  in  the  sand. 

Few  were  to  know 

That  its  golden  glow 
Had  vanished  from  sight  in  the  land. 

The  reaper  cleft  a  blade  of  grass 

That  was  borne  from  the  field  of  Time: 

Its  fragrance  sweet 

Was  all  complete 
For  its  life  had  been  sublime. 

A  son  went  down,  far  in  the  West 
Where  the  golden  sunsets  show: 

But  his  little  day, 

Though  passed  away. 
Left  its  beautiful  afterglow. 


Written  on   the  death  of  Ex-Senator  W.   J.   Hill  of  Salinas,  Calif.,  a  cousin 
of  the  writer  and  his  childhood  companion  and  lifetime  friend. 

Paffe  S6 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


HIRAM'S  TRUMPET 

God  gave  him  a  trumpet  and  bade  him  blow, 
And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew. 
An  echo  came  back  from  the  ends  of  the  earth ; 
Some  notes  returned  sad,  and  some  full  of  mirth — 
And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew. 

Some  notes  that  went  out  from  the  trumpet  he  gave 
Were  like  bomb  shells  that  broke  in  the  air; 
Breweries  tumbled  and  wreck  strewed  the  ground. 
There  were  splinters  and  staves  everywhere — 
And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew. 

Another  long  blast  from  the  trumpet  went  forth ; 
All  the  rum  mills,  the  stills  went  askew, 
Naught  left  to  inspect,  or  the  tax  to  collect. 
And  our  good  grain  was  saved  from  the  brew — 
And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew. 

He  gave  a  strong  blast,  and  a  cyclone  went  out, 

And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew; 

Old  John  Barlecorn  and  his  army  forlorn 

Were  swept  from  the  earth,  a  new  era  had  birth — 

And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew. 


Pave  31 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


Then  a  sweet  sound  went  forth  from  the  trumpet, 
And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew. 
The  serpent's  gone,  and  the  lamb  and  the  fawn 
Brought  joy  to  the  world  and  Millennium  dawn — 
And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew. 

Joy  to  the  world  from  the  trumpet  went  forth, 
And  he  blew,  and  he  blew,  and  he  blew. 
Christ  the  Lord  has  come  down  to  His  people  again 
To  proclaim  peace  on  eath  and  salvation  to  men — 
And  the  trumpet  God  gave  me  I  earnestly  blew. 


The  writer  of  the  above  lines  opposed  the  liquor  traflic  with  pen  and  pencil 
for  over  sixty  years.  lie  lived  to  see  the  adoption  of  the  Constitutional  Amend- 
ment making  the  United  States  dry  territory. 

Proverbs  20  :7 — Wine  is  a  mocker,  strong  drink  is  raging ;  and  whosoever  is 
deceived  thereby  Is  not  wise. 

Pagesa 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


REVERIE 

The  golden  days  and  summer  haze, 

When  we  oft  walked  together 
Adown  the  glen  where  maple  shade 
And  elder  blooms  made  sweet  the  glade. 
Have  vanished  now  forever. 

The  brook  that  flows  through  field  and  fen 

Where  flags  and  cattails  waver 
Through  the  ravine,  on  toward  the  mill, 
Whose  moss  grown  wheel  is  standing  still, 
To  turn  no  more  forever. 

Today  I  view  the  scenes  alone. 
The  seasons  go  and  come,  to  sever 
The  friends  that  rambled  with  me  there; 
These  will  not  walk  with  me  again. 
Dear  past !    Gone — gone  forever. 


Little  Itock.  Ark.,  Oct..   lOoa. 
Paye  SO 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


OUR  MANSION 

I  am  settling  up  my  business 
And  preparing  for  a  journey — 

I'm  going  to  a  country  far  away; 
To  a  home  of  peace  and  quiet, 
And  I  shall  not  have  to  buy  it — 

No  mortgages  mature  there  day  by  day. 

There's  no  want  in  that  fair  country, 
And  no  banks  to  hoard  the  gold ; 

No  greedy  souls  to  rob  the  toiling  poor; 
But  a  mansion  richly  furnished. 
With  its  walls  all  white  and  burnished — 

Where  the  greedy  never  enter  at  the  door. 

In  our  Father's  ancient  mansion 
There  is  room  for  all  who  enter — 

The  title's  everlasting  and  secure. 
There's  no  millionaire  can  buy  it, 
Not  a  rich  man  needs  to  try  it — 

This  mansion  God  has  builded  for  his  poor. 


Page  iO 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  ANGEL'S  WHISPER 

O  lark  of  the  meadow,  your  song's  full  of  sweetness, 

As  you  call  to  your  mate  o'er  the  lea ; 
Your  sweet  notes  are  blending  with  voices  descending, 

While  the  angels  are  whisp'ring  to  me. 

0  white-breasted  swallow,  so  gracefully  darting, 

As  you  twitter  and  glide  in  your  glee, 
You've  come  once  again  to  bring  springtime's  sweet  message 

While  the  angels  are  whisp'ring  to  me. 

0  cricket  down  under  the  old  stone  step  chirping. 
Safely  hidden  where  no  eye  can  see; 

1  love  your  glad  song  in  the  calm  of  the  evening 

When  the  angels  are  whisp'ring  to  me. 

0  honey-bee  humming,  you  kiss  the  sweet  flowers, 

Then  fly  up  to  your  home  in  the  tree ; 
With  wonderful  neatness  you  store  up  the  sweetness 

While  the  angels  are  whisp'ring  to  me. 

0  little  brown  ant,  you  industrious  fellow. 

With  your  store  houses  hid  in  the  land. 
You  teach  us  a  lesson  on  how  to  be  thrifty 

As  you  pile  up  the  grains  of  the  sand. 


PageU 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


And  rabbit,  wild  bunny,  that  hops  in  the  thicket, 
Better  M-atch  for  the  hungry  coyote; 

You're  swift  as  a  ranger,  yet  always  in  danger 
Lest  you  get  a  hole  torn  in  your  coat. 

And  watch  dog  that  growls  at  a  stranger's  appearing 

And  to  bark  at  the  moon  is  full  free, 
With  bird,  beast  and  insect,  keep  still  for  a  minute 

While  the  angels  are  whisp'ring  to  me. 

0  beautiful  world  with  its  beauteous  creations, 
Its  forests,  its  rivers,  its  blue  rolling  seas : 

1  must  bid  you  good-night  and  enter  the  slumber — 
The  Angels  of  Dreamland  are  calling  to  me. 


Page  42 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


HEART  THROBS 

Be  still,  my  heart, 

Nor  throb  so  wild  tonight; 
The  fleeting  years  have  gone 
And  taken  in  their  flight 
The  flush  of  youth 
I'm  old,  forsooth. 

Be  still,  sick  heart : 

Thy  loved  one  lies  at  rest ; 

Nor  moan,  nor  weep,  nor  sigh : 

God's  way  is  always  best. 

This  is  His  will, 

My  aching  heart. 

Be  still ! 

Be  still,  sore  heart : 

Thy  wounds  can  never  heal. 
Come  soon,  0  Fatal  Wheel — 
God's  greatest  boon  at  last. 
This  is  His  will, 
O  heart,  be  still. 
Be  still ! 


Little    Kock.   October.    1<)02. 
Pauc  is 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


ON  TO  BERLIN 

We  are  coming,  Father  Woodrow, 

Ten  million  soldiers  strong; 
The  eagles  are  a-screaming, 

While  our  hosts  are  marching  on. 
'Neath  the  shadows  of  Old  Glory, 

And  above  the  noise  and  din. 
Freedom's  voice  is  calling,  calling: 
"On  to  Berlin ! 
On  to  Berlin !" 

Down  from  the  craggy  mountains 
Come  the  hardy  mountaineers ; 
Up  from  the  fruitful  valleys 

Tramp  the  hordes  of  volunteers ; 
And  the  cowboys  are  a-coming 

To  free  Belgium  and  the  Finn, 
And  make  a  World  Republic ; 
"On  to  Berlin ! 
On  to  Berlin!" 


May.   1918. 


Page  44 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


REFLECTIONS  OF  A  TRAMP 

Backward,  far  backward,  through  swift  rolling  years, 

A  fair  little  cottage  returns  to  my  view, 
With  vine  covered  porch  and  evergreens  by  it, 

And  dear  little  woman  with  eyes  true  and  blue. 

Sitting  together  when  worktime  was  over, 

We  rocked  as  the  moon  shone,  the  whole  evening  through 
While  mocking  birds  sang  to  whipporwills  calling. 

We  planned  for  the  future  as  young  people  do. 

We  sat  in  the  shade  of  the  broad-spreading  maple, 
We  walked  in  the  garden  where  carnations  grew. 

We  culled  summer  roses  and  put  on  the  mantle 

And  violet  that  scented  the  whole  cottage  through. 

Oh  cruelly  broken  the  joys  of  my  home-life, 

When  first  I  drank  beer  at  the  bar  o'er  the  way, 

The  appetite  grew  like  a  horrible  cancer 

To  strangle  my  manhood  and  drive  love  away. 


Page  i5 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


The  liquor  saloon  was  to  me  ever  calling; 

I  drank  at  its  fountain  and  bathed  in  its  shame, 
Turned  my  back  on  the  cottage  and  love  ever  pleading, 

And  traveled  the  highway  of  blight  and  ill-fame. 

Alone  on  the  road  of  life's  hurry  and  tumult, 
The  mirror  reflects  but  a  wreck  to  my  view. 

And  under  the  stars,  with  hay  for  a  pillow, 
My  fair  wife  and  cottage — I  oft  dream  of  you. 


Page  iG 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


TRANSFORMATION 

The  soul  finds  a  home  in  the  new-born  babe 
When  the  first  breath  of  life  is  drawn, 

And  holds  the  fort  until  the  structure  falls, 
Then  the  soul  comes  out  and  is  gone. 

— Genesis,  :2nd  chapter,  7th  verse. 

Day  follows  day  and  night  follows  night, 

And  the  centuries  onward  roll ; 
Youth  follows  youth  and  age  follows  age, 

By  the  breath  of  a  living  soul. 

— John  3  :15  and  4  and  36. 

How  many  times  have  we  lived  on  earth. 
And  how  many  times  have  we  died  ? 

How  many  bodies  have  we  worn  out 
With  souls  that  will  always  abide  ? 

— First  Epistle  General  of  John,  and  25th  verse. 

And  thus  it  is  the  soul  lives  on; 

When  one  body  goes  to  decay 
Another  body  with  a  new  name 

God  gives  in  His  own  good  way. 

— Eccleslastea,    C    and    10. 


Paqe kl 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


GOD  HELP  THE  POOR 

When  the  lamps  all  glow  with  light 

And  the  fires  are  warm  and  bright, 

And  the  chilling  wind  moans  dreary  out  the  door, 

When  the  snow  flakes  fill  the  air 

And  the  sleet  drives  everywhere, 

My  soul  goes  out  to  Thee — 

God  help  the  poor! 

When  I  tread  the  crowded  street 

And  the  richly  clad  I  meet  — 

When  I  see  the  laden  counters  in  each  store, 

When  I  see  one  wan  of  face, 

Empty  handed  in  life's  race. 

Then  my  soul  goes  out  to  Thee — 

God  help  the  poor! 

In  the  vaults  are  sacks  of  gold 

Hoarded  up  to  rust  and  mould 

By  the  hand  of  Greed  which  makes  the  bolts  secure, 

Which  could  save  the  frightful  loss 

That  is  poverty's  sure  coast. 

My  heart  goes  out  to  Thee — 

God  help  the  poor! 


Page  k& 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  STORM 

The  peerless  Watts  was  a  clipper  ship 

And  a  clipper  ship  was  she ; 
She  sailed  out  straight  fi-om  the  Golden  Gate 

And  she  made  for  the  open  sea. 

"East  southeast!"  the  skipper  called 
And  the  good  ship  veered  about; 

She  is  scudding  down  before  the  wind 
With  every  sheet  filled  out. 

"A  squall!"  rang  out  from  the  afterwatch. 

And  the  squall  was  plain  to  see; 
Clouds  as  black  as  a  raven  wing 

Were  swooping  down  on  the  sea. 

"Aloft,  ye  dogs  of  the  sea!    Aloft! 

Up !    Up  and  furl  each  sail ! 
Old  Neptune  is  blowing  his  trumpet  hard, 

Make  ready  our  ship  for  the  gale !" 

The  sails  were  in  and  anchor  lashed, 
And  the  storm  came  down  with  a  howl ; 

Blue  lightning  hissed  adown  the  spars 
And  thunder  clouds  did  growl. 


PagekB 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


The  mizzen  mast  went  into  the  sea, 
Then  the  main  mast  with  a  crash ; 

Then  the  crew  of  the  Watts  went  overboard 
With  the  cook  that  made  their  hash. 

The  ship  now  floats — a  derelict — 

Weathering  storms  and  tide. 
She  has  no  captain  to  give  command, 

No  pilot  there  to  guide. 

And  why  the  fate  of  the  sturdy  ship? 

How  strange  it  was — how  queer! 
The  mermaids  whisper,  "The  crew  was  drunk, 

She  carried  a  cargo  of  beer." 


Page  r,0 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


SWEETLY  THEY  SLEEP 

We  sing  of  the  ship  that  never  returned 

And  the  letter  that  never  came. 

We  sigh  as  we  look  at  the  vacant  chair 

And  whisper  some  loved  one's  name. 

We  are  shocked  when  a  mighty  ship  goes  down 

In  the  depths  were  urchins  creep, 

And  we  bear  the  grief  because  we  must  live 

While  our  dear  ones  are  calm  in  their  sleep. 

Though  the  elements  rave  and  wild  winds  sweep 

And  strew  with  shipwreck  the  bellowing  deep, 

Though  thousands  go  down  where  none  go  to  weep, 

And  storm  demons  revel  in  destruction  they  reap, 

They  heed  not  the  moaning  for  sweetly  they  sleep. 

Though  tempests  may  howl  and  thunderbolts  rattle 

And  armies  are  vanquished  in  tumult  and  battle ; 

The  dew  settles  down  and  night  shadows  creep 

With  softness  and  silence  o'er  graves  where  they  sleep. 

Though  the  trenches  be  clogged  with  heroes  who  bled, 

Who  gave  up  their  lives  and  lie  low  with  the  dead. 

Though  fathers  may  mourn  and  mothers  may  weep. 

Yet  freedom  must  live,  though  our  heroes  must  sleep. 

Though  famine  may  stalk  through  the  nations  again, 


P<i(je  r,i 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


And  pestilence  reap — as  the  reaper  does  grain — 
And  want's  bony  fingers  bind  men  with  his  chain, 
They  hunger  not,  thirst  not,  no  hot  tears  they  weep, 
Unknown  are  earth's  troubles  for  sweetly  they  sleep. 
Though  volcanos  burst  forth,  the  earth  quake  and  tremble, 
And  the  Gods  of  destruction  in  fury  assemble, 
They  hear  not  the  maelstrom,  no  startled  hearts  leap, 
Lo!  the  calm  is  unbroken  when  sweetly  they  sleep. 


Written   in   the   author's   eightieth  year. 

Page  52 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  SKELETON'S  BALL 

I  found  myself  in  a  Cave  of  Death, 
Nor  knew  how  I  came,  nor  why. 

But  frightful  sounds  came  at  every  breath, 
And  gruesome  scenes  to  the  eye. 

Graveyard  inhabitants  thronged  about 

And  family  skeletons,  too; 
Yet  never  a  secret  was  let  out, 

Nor  a  scandal  brought  to  view. 

They  looked  about  with  a  jaw-bone  grin 

And  suspicious,  silent  gaze; 
There  was  something  going  to  begin 

By  the  strangeness  of  their  ways. 

The  dirge  of  the  dead  march  first  was  heard. 
Then  jazz  for  the  bones  to  dance. 

As  they  orbed  each  other  silently, 
While  their  bones  began  to  prance. 

Strange,  lurid  lights  in  the  cave  burned  blue 

(My  blood  turned  ice-water  cold), 
They  drank  out  of  skulls,  this  motley  crew, 
And  resorted  to  deeds  untold. 


Page  53 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


All  that  mortals  ever  thought  or  knew 

From  the  cradle  to  the  grave, 
Can  be  seen  and  heard  when  lights  burn  blue 

As  in  that  skeleton  cave. 

What  comes !    A  pack  of  blood-eyed  hounds 

On  scent  of  the  dancing  bones! 
I  stood  with  fright  and  with  trembling  frame, 

At  the  sound  of  goulish  groans. 

Then  the  dry  bones  rattled  o'er  the  rocks 
Straight  headed  for  some  old  grave, 

In  a  mighty  effort,  from  the  hounds 
Each  skeleton  form  to  save. 

A  vast  howl  rent  the  dismal  cave. 
For  the  hounds  began  to  weep. 

•  •  •  •  a 

As  I  stretched  my  neck  to  see  the  show 
I  woke  from  a  sleepless  sleep. 


Page  5.} 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


FLOUR  GRAVY 

Ho !  the  good  old  flour  gravy 
That  our  mother  used  to  make ; 
It  was  good  on  steaming  biscuit, 
It  was  good  on  johnnycake. 

It  was  good  in  every  season, 
In  the  springtime,  summer,  fall ; 
It  was  good  out  in  the  pantry. 
In  the  dining  room  or  hall. 

*Twas  good  on  buckwheat  pancakes, 
It  was  good  on  mashed  potatoes, 
It  went  down  with  satisfaction 
Along  with  sliced  tomatoes. 

It  was  fine  when  we'd  no  butter. 
It  was  good  upon  dry  bread ; 
It  was  good  at  every  meal  time, 
After  blessing  had  been  said. 

Long-past  joys  drift  back  sometimes. 
To  the  good  old  days  at  home. 
E'er  the  family  ties  were  broken 
And  we  all  began  to  roam. 

One  dear  thought  oft  comes  to  me, 
And  I  sing  it  for  her  sake, 
It  is  of  the  old  flour  gravy 
That  our  mother  used  to  make. 


Page  55 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


WHAT  IS  MAN? 

For  all  flesh  is  as  grass,  and  all  the  glory  of  man  as  the  flower  of  grass. 
The  grass  withers th  and  the  flower  thereof  faileth. — Peter  2-24. 

Only  a  blade  of  grass 

In  the  meadow  of  the  world: 

Only  a  fallen  leaf 

By  driving  tempests  hurled. 

Only  a  stalk  of  grain 

With  the  reaper's  sickle  near, 

Only  a  passing  breath 
In  Time's  relentless  ear. 

Only  an  earthen  vase 

That  Satan  strives  to  fill, 
And  yet  a  chosen  vessel 

To  voice  the  Potter's  will. 


Page  56 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THANKSGIVING 

A  nation's  gratitude  to-day 

Goes  out  to  Thee,  Almighty  God ; 
We  thank  Thee  for  Thy  gifts  of  love, 

And  praise  Thee  for  the  chastening  rod. 
The  fruitful  seasons  come  and  go. 

With  summer  days  and  winter  storm; 
The  blessings,  countless  as  the  stars, 

Descend  upon  us  multiform. 
The  cotton  fields  are  white  with  down, 

Our  wheat  fields  were  as  sheets  of  gold ; 
The  orchard  boughs  were  bended  low 

With  fruitage  rich  and  many-fold. 
Again  the  corn  fields  yield  the  ear. 

Our  cribs  are  filled  with  golden  grain, 
The  vines  were  hung  with  clustered  grapes. 

The  vintage  fills  our  casks  again. 
The  mines  unfold  their  wealth  to  us. 

The  gold,  the  silver  and  the  coal — 
These  are  the  Lord's  rich  gifts  to  men ; 

Forgive  us,  Lord,  when  we  contend. 
Forgive  us,  Lord,  though  we  forget 

To  thank  Thee  while  we  feast  and  drink ; 


Page , 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


We  did  not  make  these  things  ourselves — 

The  earth  belongs  to  Thee,  we  think. 
We  did  not  make  the  luscious  fruits 

That  drop  from  orchard,  bush  and  vine; 
We  did  not  shape  the  fatted  fowl, 

Nor  make  the  grapes  that  give  us  wine. 
Forgive  us.  Lord,  though  we  forget, 

We  did  not  make  the  wheat  and  corn ; 
Our  little  hands  are  only  toys. 

All  those  of  a  great  God  are  born. 
And  so  we  praise  Thy  name  today 

For  joys  and  blessings  multiplied; 
We  praise  Thee  for  Thy  gift  supreme, 

Thine  only  Son,  the  Crucified. 


November   20.    1917.     Watts.    Cal. 

Page  58 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


TO  A  MILLIONAIRE 

0  rich  man,  wrapped  in  thy  silken  coat, 

Dost  thou  have  aught  to  fear, 
When  wintry  winds  sweep  over  the  hills. 

And  forest  leaves  are  sere? 

0  rich  man,  thou  hast  thine  acres  broad, 

Steam  heat,  wrought  chandelier, 
When  winter  winds  drive  through  hovels  bare 

Dost  thou  have  naught  to  fear? 

O  rich  man,  tho  hast  thine  acres  broad, 

Thy  vaults  groan  with  thy  store. 
Why  squeeze  thy  riches  in  thy  hand 

And  struggle  yet  for  more  ? 

Thy  days  are  numbered,  0  foolish  man ! 

The  hand  writes  on  the  wall — 
Thou  shalt  go  the  way  the  beggar  goes 

And  leave  thy  hoarded  all. 

0  rich  man,  thou  art  so  slow  to  learn 

That  earth  and  her  stores  within 
Belongs  to  a  God  that  looks  upon 

Greed  as  a  damning  sin. 

0  rich  man,  drunk  on  the  wine  of  wealth, 

When  it  shall  be  too  late 
Charge  not  the  vengeance  wrecked  on  a  fool 

To  bling  and  aimless  Fate. 


Page  59 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


THE  ANSWERS  THAT  CAME 

I  called  to  Wealth ;  he  turned  from  me 

With  haughty  look,  and  said, 

"The  world's  a  store-house  full  of  goods, 

The  door  is  open,  all  are  free, 

'Tis  full  from  basement  to  top  shelf — 

Walk  in  and  help  yourself,  yourself." 

I  called  to  Glory,  and  it  came — 

Back  from  the  mountainside  and  plain — 

An  echo  came,  up  from  the  vale. 

And  from  the  far-off  wooded  hill. 

From  city  walls  of  many  story 

A  taunting  voice  cried  "Glory,  glory!" 

I  called  to  Fame,  to  write  my  name 
Upon  the  record  book  of  time ; 
My  name  was  caught  up  by  the  wind 
And  borne  where'er  the  free  winds  blow ; 
The  four  winds  whisper  soft  my  name — 
A  soon-forgotten  name.    Ah !  Fame ! 

I  called  to  Love  to  quench  my  thirst, 

To  fill  my  yearning,  empty  soul ; 

Then  from  a  temple  in  the  skies 

A  sweet  voice  called,  "Come  unto  me," 

I  looked,  and  lo !  a  spirit  dove 

Came  down  and  filled  my  soul  with  love. 


Page  60 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


JOY  AND  WOE 

JOY 

I  went  to  the  church  and  the  preacher  preached; 
His  theme  was  love  and  cheer — good  cheer. 
Then  the  organ  played  and  the  singers  sang, 
"Joy  to  the  world,  Heaven's  here — is  here." 

WOE 

I  passed  the  door  of  a  gin  saloon, 
And  there  came  from  within  the  fumes  of  beer. 
And  a  drunkard  screamed  with  tremens  m.ad : 
"Hell  is  on  earth,  Hell's  here — is  here." 

JOY 

Let  us  go  to  a  beautiful  garden  now, 
The  fragrance  of  the  flowers  is  always  here, 
And  a  song  bird  sings  with  swelling  throat : 
"What  a  beautiful  world,  Heaven's  here — is  here.' 

WOE 

To  the  grim  state  prison  next  we  go, 
Where  out  through  the  bars  the  prisoners  peer. 
And  a  pale-faced  youth  with  trembling  voice 
Said,  "Help  me  get  out  for  Hell  is  here." 


I'aye  61 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


JOY 

"0,  love  that  will  not  let  me  go," 

A  poet  sang  with  a  vision  clear, 

"Love  in  the  soul,  with  a  Christian  life, 

Brings  Heaven  here — brings  Heaven  here." 

WOE 

In  a  city's  den,  where  dark  vice  lurks. 

And  the  inmates  crouch  with  shame  and  fear, 

A  young  girl  on  her  dying  couch 

Said,  "They  dosed  me  with  wine,  and  Hell  is  here. 

Oh,  shame  on  men — Hell  is  here." 


Page  62 


®I)f  ilptf rg 


Pane  CI 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


A  Midnight  Vision 


The  author  of  this  poem  sat  up  alone  in  a  room  to  watch  the  old  year  out 
and  the  new  year  in.  and  just  at  twelve  o'clock  midnight,  when  the  tiells  began 
to  ring  he  commenced  to  write.     The  verses  were  finished  before  daylight. 


Page  6i 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  MYSTERY 

The  new  year  brings  new  resolutions, 
To  men  and  maids  and  institutions; 
The  new  year  came,  I  sat  reflecting 
On  what  I'd  done  and  been  neglecting: 
Back  through  the  past  and  silent  years. 
Fought  with  hard  toiling  and  with  tears, 
Intent  was  I,  and  rapt  in  dreaming; 
The  grate  was  bright  with  coals  a-gleaming, 
My  lamp  sat  on  the  stand  a-glowing; 
The  midnight  hours  were  swiftly  going; 
The  Tower  Bell,  with  solemn  tone, 
Rang  out  the  hours — I  sat  alone — 

I  sat  there, 

Thinking, 

Winking, 

Blinking. 


Page  65 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


Ah!  then  there  came  a  silent  creature — 
A  softly  moving,  noiseless  creature — 
Though  my  door  was  locked  securely, 
In  she  stepped,  proud  and  demurely, 
With  steps  as  light  as  spirit's  tread ; 
With  haughty  look,  and  toss  of  head. 
She  scrutinized  the  room  with  care, 
Then  sat  her  in  the  rocking  chair. 
Surprised,  I  rose  in  quite  a  fluster, 
And  yet,  in  silence,  without  bluster 
To  me  the  meeting  was  quite  shocking ; 
She  heeded  naught,  but  went  to  rocking. 

I  stood  and 
Gazed, 
Amazed, 
Quite  dazed. 


Page  06 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


When  love  is  born  within  a  soul 
Customs  and  laws  do  not  control. 
There  lingers  with  me  from  my  birth 
A  love  for  beauteous  things  on  earth ; 
And  so  mine  eyes  with  hungry  stare 
Looked  on  the  beauty  of  the  fair; 
The  golden  curls  and  tossing  plume 
Of  her  who  sat  within  my  room ; 
I  saw  her  arm  and  taper'd  hand, 
Her  form  both  delicate  and  grand. 
Fate  or  fear  starts  my  heart  knocking- 
The  silent  guest  keeps  rocking,  rocking. 

I  stood  there, 
Gounded, 
Astounded, 
Dumbfounded. 


Par/e  67 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


In  love's  fond  march  there's  no  receding; 
And  soon  forgetting  all  my  breeding, 
I  so  intently  viewed  the  form 
My  heart  was  torn  with  silent  storm; 
Her  head  was  crowned  with  glossy  curls, 
Her  teeth  were  bright  as  polished  pearls, 
Her  silken  lashes  long  and  bright, 
Environed  eyes  dark  as  the  night, 
A  face  more  sweet  than  angels  wear 
Was  wreathed  within  the  glossy  hair; 
My  heart  grew  quick  with  violent  knocking 
As  my  fair  guest  kept  rocking,  rocking. 

I  stood  there. 

Excited, 

Indicted, 

Delighted ! 


Page  68 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


When  war  grows  fierce  and  cannon  roar, 
The  soldier's  fear  is  always  o'er; 
Though  he  lay  vanquished  in  the  sun, 
Or  triumph  when  the  battle's  won. 
The  storm  within  my  breast  now  ceased, 
My  gaze  and  scrutiny  increased. 
Our  language  fails  with  words  or  stress 
This  fair  one's  beauty  to  express. 
Though  I  grew  wild  to  speak  her  name, 
I  could  not,  nor  know  whence  she  came. 
Her  slippers  showed,  and  a  white  stocking, 
As  she  sat  rocking,  rocking,  rocking. 

And  I  stood  there. 

Amused, 

Enthused, 

Confused ! 


Pane  69 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


"Be  ye  maiden,  ghost,  or  witch?" 
(Love's  blind  passion  cares  not  which;) 
Those  red  rosebuds,  lined  with  pearl, 
I  will  kiss  them,  my  fair  girl." 
Then  I  moved  toward  her  a  pace, 
Lo !  she  quickly  turned  her  face. 
And  I  met  her  dark  eyes  staring. 
Through  my  soul  these  eyes  seemed  tearing, 
And  I  stood  there,  not  receding. 
As  my  motives  she  M^as  reading. 
My  whole  system  seemed  unlocking 
As  she  kept  on  rocking,  rocking; 

While  my  heart  kept 

Jumping, 

Thumping, 

Bumping ! 


Page  10 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


Now  growing  faint  and  sore  oppressed, 
The  silent  spectre  I  addressed: 
"I  pray  thee,  madam,  since  I,  blest 
With  thy  sweet  presence,  thou  my  guest, 
May  I  not  learn  of  thee  thy  name ; 
Pray  tell  me,  and  from  whence  you  came  ? 
Wouldst  thou  some  news  to  me  unfold 
That  needs  in  secret  to  be  told? 
Why  hast  thou  sought  me  thus  alone? 
I  pray  thee  make  thy  wishes  known." 
In  sullen  dumbness  that  was  shocking 
She  still  kept  rocking,  rocking,  rocking! 

I  stood  there. 

Aching, 

Shaking, 

Quaking! 


Page  11 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


Entreaties  make  the  heart  grow  bold : 
My  strength  came  back  now  many  fold. 
Though  dark  foreboding  o'er  me  hover, 
This  mystery  now  I  must  discover. 
"How  came  ye  here  through  locks  and  bars — 
Hast  thou  dropped  from  among  the  stars? 
Art  thou  the  Nemesis  which  hist'ry 
Surrounds  with  vengeance  and  with  myst'ry? 
Seek  ye  here  for  restitution, — 
Broken  vows  or  resolution? 
Why  sit  ye  thus  in  silence  mocking? 
Come,  cease  thy  rocking,  rocking,  rocking!" 

I  stood  there, 

Staring, 

Glaring, 

Daring! 


Pa  ye  72 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


"Tell  me,  dark  ey'd  midnight  maiden, 
With  your  rich  charms  heavy  laden, 
Art  thou  the  Queen  of  Fairy  Land, 
Or  of  some  roving  gjT3sey  band? 
Hast  thou  good  fortune  stored  for  me? 
Does  condemnation  bide  with  thee? 
Art  thou  in  secret  service  biding, 
To  seek  some  genius  when  in  hiding 
To  drag  before  the  world  for  trial? 
Speak,  speak,  I  pray  you,  make  denial !" 
Her  rocking  now  seemed  quite  complete. 
She  rose  and  stood  upon  her  feet. 

I  stood  there, 

At  last, 

Aghast 

And  fast! 


Paye  7S 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


Those  white  hands  to  her  bosom  flew, 
The  silken  fastenings  to  undoe. 
And  from  the  opening  then  she  slipped 
The  arms  with  which  she  came  equipped. 
Her  left  hand  drew  a  cord  pure  white, 
And  a  barbed  arrow  with  her  right. 
I  trembled  and  with  deep-drawn  sigh 
Read  my  sad  fate  in  her  dark  eye. 
With  angel  gesture  and  with  art 
She  pressed  the  white  cord  to  her  heart. 
This  cord  means  love,  I  apprehend 
With  the  barbed  arrow  at  the  end. 

I  stood  there, 
Exposed, 
Deposed, 
Transposed ! 


Page  74 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


In  the  north  seas  the  whaler  stands 
With  line  and  harpoon  in  his  hands 
To  smite  the  monster  of  the  deep 
Whose  bone  and  oil  the  whalers  keep. 
I  am  no  whale  with  blubber  oiled, 
To  be  harpooned,  cut  up  and  boiled. 
To  live  is  joy,  to  die  is  just, 
To  earth  belongs  all  living  dust. 
The  arrow  that  may  strike  by  day 
Or  midnight  visitor  may  slay, 
Yet  fear  has  fled,  I  cannot  weep, 
For  He  who  keeps  me  does  not  sleep. 

I  stood  there, 
Consenting, 
Repenting, 
Relenting! 


Page  75 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


And  now  the  midnight  specter  stands 
With  cord  and  arrow  in  her  hands; 
"How  beautiful  she  is,"  thought  I, 
When,  Lo!  she  let  the  missle  fly; 
I  felt  the  shock,  the  sting,  the  smart, 
For  Oh !  it  pierced  my  throbbing  heart. 
I  raised  my  hands  to  call  the  Lord — 
Ah!  then  she  drew  hard  on  the  cord; 
My  poor  heart  soon  had  ceased  to  beat, 
And  I  lay  vanquished  at  her  feet; 
I  felt  the  cold,  calm  kiss  of  death 
Upon  my  lips  at  the  last  breath. 

A  Voice  said: 
"He  is  dead, 
Make  his  bed." 
And  she  fled. 


Page  7G 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


Some  consciousness  I  still  retained, 
Some  lingering  memories  still  remained, 
E'er  I  had  left  the  fallen  clay, 
Forever  to  remain  away : 
I  lisped,  as  in  the  days  of  yore. 
My  evening  prayer  when  day  was  o'er: 
"And  now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep, 
I  pray  the  Lord  my  soul  to  keep." 
All  pain  had  ceased  and  I  was  blest 
With  fearless  calm  and  peaceful  rest, 
While  glorious  visions  o'er  me  swept — 
And  in  my  soul  a  new  life  le'pt. 

That  would 

Not  sigh, 

Nor  cry, 

Nor  die ! 


Page  77 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


0 !  mystery !   I  live,  I  live — 
I  hear  and  see,  yet  cannot  give 
A  sigh,  nor  sound,  nor  motion  make; 
I  sleep  in  death,  yet  am  awake; 
I  see  a  wreath  and  flowers  lay 
Upon  a  little  mound  of  clay. 
Up  from  my  head  there  seems  to  rise 
A  polished  stone  toward  the  skies; 
Within,  a  sculptured  wreath,  a  name 
Placed  there  by  the  just  hand  of  fame! 
The  day  is  dawning;  out  of  night 
I  seem  to  float  in  seas  of  light. 

The  new  life, 
Never 
To  sever. 
For  ever! 


Page  78 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


Then  there  came  walking  through  the  air, 
With  snowy  robes  and  visage  fair, 
A  messenger  whom  I  did  greet; 
The  scars  of  spikes  were  on  his  feet, 
And  Roman  spikes  had  torn  the  hands, 
That  gather  souls  from  many  lands, 
That  pressed  the  children  to  his  breast 
And  gave  the  groaning  leper  rest. 
Oh!  joy  supreme,  he  whispered  "Come!" 
O!  boundless  love,  I'm  going  home 
To  Father's  mansion  in  the  skies, 
Farewell  to  earth !  I  rise,  I  rise ! 

Life  Everlasting, 

Fraternal, 

Supernal, 

Eternal ! 


Paae  79 


JFragnt^nts 


Page  81 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


BACK  AT  THE  FARM 

Such  hours  as  these  I  cherish, 
Happy  scenes  on  life's  rough  way. 
Flowers  fill  the  air  with  fragrance 
And  birds  sing  their  roundelay. 
Scenes  that  all  my  senses  charm 
Back  from  childhood's  days  so  pleasant, 
Greet  a  wanderer  returning 
To  the  old  home  farm. 


Augusta,  Canada,  1872. 

Page  8i 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


TRANSMIGRATION 

From  bank  to  bank  and  shore  to  shore 
The  ferry  laden  crosses  o'er 
From  either  side  the  travelers  come 
To  cross  the  stream  and  hasten  on. 

The  silent  river  flows  away 
By  stately  forest,  point,  and  bay. 
Nor  ceases  till  it  gains  the  sea, 
Where  rivers  find  their  destiny. 

And  they  who  cross  on  ferryboat 
Adown  time's  stream  swift  onward  float. 
Till  they  all  reach  the  other  sea 
Whose  bounds  are  vast  eternity. 


Martin's    Ferrj-. 
Page  83 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


TO  AN  ACTRESS 

For  charity  I  went  in  search  'neath  spire  and  dome, 
Where  worshippers  knelt  low  at  altars  fair, 
In  gorgeous  robes  and  jewels  rich  and  rare. 
They  said  their  prayers,  paid  their  tax,  went  home, 
But  Charity,  it  was  not  there. 

I  went  into  an  attic,  called  by  direst  woe ; 

A  woman  there  whose  life  had  not  been  white — 

Diseased,  abused,  her  womanhood  a  blight. 

One  like  an  angel  moved  about  the  place 

And  served  the  women  with  the  haunted  face. 

An  actress  she.    I  had  not  thought  to  find  it  so — 

Yet  Charity  was  here,  I  know. 


Paget 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


INGERSOLL 

Giant  of  intellect  and  orator  sublime ! 
He  lived  a  hundred  years  before  his  time. 
Hated  and  crucified  by  ignorance  uncouth 
Because  he  dared  to  live  and  speak  the  truth. 

Beneath  a  monument  of  bronze  he  sleepeth  well : 
For  him  no  purgatory,  no  nor  burning  hell. 
He  loved  Mankind— the  Free  Land  of  his  birth. 
Sweet  be  his  sleep  upon  the  breast  of  Mother  Earth. 


On  tho  (loath  of   Kobort    InK^rsoll. 
Payc  85 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


WINTER 

Black  are  the  clouds  and  blue  with  cold ; 
The  hills  are  covered  with  drifted  snow; 
The  towering  pines  are  bending  East 
As  wild  the  wind  from  the  West  doth  blow. 

Marked  are  the  windows  with  artistry, 
Like  cedar  trees  of  the  Northern  clime 
And  bunches  of  rushes  and  tall,  wild  grass 
Traced  in  the  silver  of  winter  time. 


Manistee,  Mich.,  Dec.  6,  1871. 

Page  86 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  WATER  SPOUT 

Hanging  mountains  of  mist — 
So  the  cloud  bank  looked  from  shore : 
But  as  it  moved  swiftly  landward 
It  was  this — and  something  more. 

Craggy  and  ragged  cliffs 
Yawned  black  as  graves  full  of  dead 
While  shadowy  ghouls  and  devils 
Seemed  gathering  overhead. 
Monsters  with  long  black  necks 
Broke  loose  and  the  water  strucK, 
Struck  with  an  awful  crash  and  roar 
With  a  hiss  and  boil  and  suck. 
The  troubled  waters  writhed 
And  threw  up  their  arms  of  spray, 
But  the  frenzied  monsters  seized  them 
And  rushed  shoreward  with  their  prey. 


Cleveland.    July    Ki.    ISKT.      After   seeing    waterspouts    from    the    shore. 
Pnoc  87 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


FLAMES 

From  row  to  row  they  sweep ; 
From  block  to  block  they  leap 
These  saddening,  maddening 

Lighting,  blighting  flames ! 
Terror  supremely  reigns 
As  the  inferno  gains : 
Burning  at  morning — noon — 
And  by  the  rising  moon. 
Burning  at  early  dawn 
And  with  a  fresh  day  gone. 


From  a  lengthy  poem  on  tb»  Chicago  fire,  1871. 

PageSS 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


NONE  ARE  LOST 

0  friends  of  mine  so  kind  and  true 
That  long  have  passed  from  my  dim  view, 
Wher'er  your  course  has  tracked  the  main 
In  some  port  we  shall  meet  again. 

For  none  have  ever  yet  been  lost 
Though  rough  and  stormy  the  way  crossed. 
One  Captain  stands  before  each  mast 
To  pilot  all  safe  home  at  last. 


Page  89 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


LONG  AND  BLACK 

Long  and  black ! 

Long  and  black 

Are  the  mourning  flags  along  the  track! 

Black,  black,  deep  mourning  everywhere 

And  sounds  of  sobbing  in  the  air. 

E'en  winds  sob  as  the  black  thej^  blow, 

Our  noble  Lincoln  lying  low. 

Long  and  black, 

Long  and  black, 

Is  a  Nation's  mourning  in  this  hour 

Made  victim  of  assassin's  pow'r. 


Written  during  a  trip  on  Welland  Canal  at  tlic  time  of  tlie  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln.  Tlie  enil)lems  of  mourning  on  tlie  Canadian  side  were  not  less 
in  evidence  than  in  the  States. 

Page  90 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  WINDS 

Leap  up  ye  merrie  winds  that  cleave  the  skies 
And  sweep  through  canyon  wild  where  mountains  rise ; 
Then  back  through  wooded  hills,  o'er  dark  morass, 
And  steppe  and  forest  as  ye  singing  pass. 

Sweep  on,  ye  fitful  winds,  across  the  plain. 
Around  Cape  Horn  and  down  the  coast  again ; 
Across  the  plunging  seas  where  storms  are  born 
And  simoons  thirst  to  kiss  the  Matterhorn. 


Writ  till  at   San  I'edro,  Cal 
Paye  91 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


A  WHISPER 

There's  a  whisper  on  the  wind  down  at  Watts 
Of  the  Brewers,  and  the  wets  and  their  plots. 
There  is  rumor  on  the  street,  when  they  meet, 
That  the  drys  will  all  get  beat,  and  retreat. 

When  election  day  rolls  around,  'twill  be  found 
That  the  drys  are  on  the  ground,  to  astound ; 
When  the  votes  are  counted  out,  what  a  rout. 
And  the  wets  will  cuss  and  pout — cuss  and  pout. 


Page  92 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


RISE,  0  HOPE! 

Drop,  drop,  drop,  0  tear,  from  weeping  eyes ! 

Sigh,  sigh,  sigh  from  the  wounded  heart,  O  sighs ! 

The  sighs  of  the  past  would  wake  a  world 

And  the  tears  a  troubled  sea. 

But  the  sighs  and  tears  of  bygone  years 

Will  never  come  back  to  me. 

Rise,  rise,  rise,  0  hope  in  the  human  soul ! 
Rise,  rise,  rise,  to  plains  of  the  Christian  goal ! 

0  withering  years,  and  ashes  of  earth, 
Thou  hast  nothing  in  store  for  me ; 

1  will  soar  above,  to  a  heaven  of  love, 
In  the  fields  of  Eternity. 


Page  9S 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


RATS 

There's  a  great  variety  of  rats — 
Some  in  castles,  some  in  flats, 
Some  in  caves  among  the  bats. 

The  old  gray  rat  well  known  to  all — 
Is  found  in  barn  and  crib  and  stall — 
To  steal  and  pillage  he's  designed 
For  all  the  rats  seem  thus  inclined. 

The  miner  oft  feels  great  disgust 
When  mountain  rats  steal  his  last  crust, 
And  while  some  rats  get  fat  on  ham 
The  musk  rat  seems  to  thrive  on  clam. 

What  nature  is  for  rats  you  see 
Cannot  be  helped  by  you  nor  me. 
But  if  we'd  prosperous  be  and  blest 
We  must  be  rid  of  this  one  pest — 
The  rat  that  steals  the  Nation's  cheese 
And  pilfers  Uncle  Sammie's  fees. 
The  one  that's  brought  us  where  we're  at 
That  worst  of  rats — the  Democrat. 


Page  9.'/ 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


IN  CONNECTICUT 

The  chestnut  tree  with  creamy  bloom 

Waves  o'er  these  mountain  hills ; 
The  songs  of  happy  birds  comes  clear 

From  wood  grown,  mossy  rills; 
And  often  where  the  deep  ravines 

Between  these  mountains  lie 
A  crystal  brook  goes  gurgling  through, 

Where  speckled  trout  their  trade  do  ply. 


On  the  way  to  Boston,  1872. 
Page  95 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


LAKE  MICHIGAN  IN  NOVEMBER 

The  North  wind  wails  afar; 
The  waves  on  the  lake  turn  dull  and  black, 
As  they  roll  and  break  upon  the  shore; 
They  shed  cold  tears  on  the  barren  sand 
While  pebbles  and  shells  are  encased  in  ice 
By  the  driven  spray  that  sprinkles  them  o'er. 


Page  96 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


BY  THE  MYSTIC  SEA 

I  stand  upon  the  short  of  Time 
And  look  out  on  the  Mystic  Sea. 
And  wonder  when  the  ship  will  come 
That  bore  my  friends  away  from  me- 
The  ship  that  will  come  after  me. 


Written  by  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
Pageyj 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


FAREWELL 

Fare  thee  well  0  gentle  summer 
With  thy  wreath  of  blossoms  fair — 
With  thy  bright  and  silv'ry  moonbeams 
And  thy  fragrant,  balmy  air, 
As  loved  ones  we  bid  adieu, 
So  we  bid  farewell  to  you. 


Elmwood  Cemetery,  Detroit.     End  of  summer,  1872. 

Page  98 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


IN  THE  GOLDEN  GLOW 

The  sea  rolled  in  through  the  Golden  Gate 
Where  a  thousand  proud  ships  lay, 

And  the  Golden  Glow  of  the  Setting  Sun 
Made  molten  rose  of  the  ruffled  bay. 


San   Francisco,  1010. 
Paye  99 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


ICE  LOCKED 

The  days  are  growing  longer; 

The  sun  is  getting  stronger 

And  the  broad  and  icy  gates 

Soon  will  open  in  the  straits. 

Then  away  through  winds  and  weather 

Sail  my  ship  and  I  together. 


Detroit.     Waiting  for  tlie  Maclnac  to  open  up. 

Page  100 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


LIKE  BIRDS  DEPARTING 

The  days  pass  by  like  midnight  dreams! 

I  know  I  live — yet  life  but  seems 

A  vision  hurried  past. 

Childhood  and  youth  with  humming  wings 

Speed  by  like  birds  departing; 

Next,  sturdy  manhood's  race  is  closed 

E'er  it  seems  time  for  starting. 


Memphis,   1002. 
Page  101 


•'       r        41 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


SHE  LIFTS  HER  HEAD! 

Look  you !    The  Queen  of  the  South ! 

Again  she  lifts  her  head 
Over  the  ashes,  and  smiles  of  hope 

To  those  who  dreamed  her  dead. 


After  the  War  between   the  States. 


Page  102 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


CLOUD  SHIPS 

The  spirits  of  many  departed  ships 
That  have  sailed  earth's  troubled  seas, 
Ride  high  in  the  blue  with  sails  of  fleece 
Blown  here  and  there  with  magical  ease — 
Silent  and  shadowy — silver  and  white — 
These  spirit  ships  sail  by  day  and  by  night. 
And  who  mans  these  ships  ?    Who  knows  ? 


Page  103 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


THE  FIRST  SNOW 

The  thick  grey  clouds  sail  low; 

The  notes  of  the  lonely  wood  bird  come 

From  tangled  thicket  and  faded  brake, 

And  the  wood  pecker  pecks — and  pecks, 

And  the  jay  bird  scolds  and  scolds 

As  it  views  the  falling  flake. 


Page  lOi 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THROUGH  THE  STORM 

Out  on  the  Sea  of  Life  alone 

The  storm  drives  fierce,  the  night  is  dark: 
0  Pilot  of  the  Soul,  in  Thee  I  trust 

To  guide  my  storm-swept,  tossing  barque. 


Tort  Huron,  1903. 

I'aoe  105 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


HALLELUJAH ! 

There  is  music  in  the  air 

From  the  mountain  to  the  sea ! 

It  comes  up  the  fertile  valley 
And  across  the  flow'ry  lea ; 

It  springs  up  from  the  depths. 
It  drops  down  from  the  sky  : 

It  is  "Glory  hallelujah! 

California's  going  dry!" 


Page  106 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


UNDER  BROAD  ELMS 

Beneath  the  broad  green  elms  I  sit, 

Where  sparrows  chirp  and  robins  sing; 

I  love  to  look  and  listen  here 

To  that  which  brings  to  my  heart  spring. 


Boston  Commons,  July  6,   1872. 
Page  107 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


NATURE  IS  TURNING 

When  the  cold  autumnal  winds 
Drive  the  honey  bees  all  home; 
When  the  yellow  leaves  turn  brown 
And  the  butterflies  are  gone; 
When  the  swallows  have  flown  south 
And  the  winds  of  winter  sigh; 
Sing  a  song  of  joy  and  hope 
Nature's  turning  on  her  track — 
Turning  to  bring  summer  back. 


Page  108 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


COMRADES 

We  dash,  we  splash  the  pebbles  o'er 
We  waltz  and  trip  together. 
We  sing  our  happy,  mystic  song 
As  breezes  roll  our  waves  along 
Forever  and  forever. 


Milwaukee,    by    the   lake. 
raye  109 


Mm 


Page  lit 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


A  FABLE 

A  mud  turtle  crept  out  of  the  mud  and  sat  near  a  frog 
sunning  itself  on  a  log  which  lay  in  the  pond.  At  the  edge 
of  the  log  a  clam  was  slowly  making  its  way  along  the  bot- 
tom and  leaving  a  furrowed  streak  behind  it. 

"Ah!"  said  the  turtle,  being  an  old  gossip,  "see  our 
neighbor;  how  everlastingly  slow  she  is  getting  along.  It 
seems  to  me  she  is  the  most  stupid  thing  I  ever  saw." 

"Yes,"  said  the  frog,  "not  only  stupid,  but  filthy.  Look 
at  the  mud  on  her  dress  as  she  goes  trailing  along  with  her 
face  down,  as  if  ashamed  to  look  up." 

"She  is  contemptible,"  said  the  turtle. 

"I  envy  her  for  one  thing  only,"  said  the  frog  earnestly. 
"She  has  within  that  plain  dress  and  homely  form  a  pearl 
of  great  value." 

"Is  it  possible?"  said  the  turtle. 

"Oh,  yes,  it  is  sought  after  by  kings  and  princes,  by 
millionaires,  and  is  a  rare  gem." 

"That  being  the  case,  I  owe  my  neighbor  an  apology," 
said  the  turtle.  "I  am  only  a  mud  turtle,  with  no  pearl 
within." 

"And  I  am  only  a  frog  with  a  long  tongue,  and  will  try 
and  think  of  the  pearl  my  neighbor  has,  before  speaking 
of  her  faults." 

Moral :  Speak  of  your  neighbor's  good  qualities,  think 
of  your  own  meanness,  and  keep  quiet. 


Page  112 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


CONUNDRUM 

The  profiteer  and  buzzard — 
Alike  they  are.    And  why? 

Both  flourish  on  misfortune 
And  they  both  fly  high. 


THE  ANT 

The  ant  that  fills,  with  hardest  work 
Its  storehouse  'neath  the  soil, 

Deserves  respect  more  than  the  leech 
Who  lives  upon  another's  toil. 


ViKje  113 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


MY  CHOICE 

I'd  rather  leave  one  child  on  earth 
Whose  life  would  make  earth  better, 

Than  leave  a  million  to  inspire 
Some  sordid  money  getter. 


TO  A  WOMAN 

Friendship  and  love,  like  the  wild  honey-bee, 
Seek  the  flowers  that  yield  the  most  sweet. 

Friendship  and  love — just  as  honey-bees  do — 
Quickly  perish  on  nothing  to  eat. 


Patje  m 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


WHY? 

Why  should  a  man  be  but  a  shrimp 

And  in  life's  effort  fail 
When  he  might  by  boldly  launching  out, 

Become  instead   a  whale? 


WHY  IS  THIS? 

Giants  have  walked  the  earth  unseen — 

Unknown  to  fame  and  story, 
While  throngs  have  cheered  the  silly  dwarf 

And  made  him  heir  to  glory. 


Pai/c  11') 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


BORROWED  GARMENTS 

The  forms  of  men  are  garments  angels  wear; 

But  oftentimes  for  lack  of  honest  use 
The  devil  gets  him  into  them  a  while 

To  plunder,  murder  and  seduce. 


THE  POWER  BEHIND  THE  PEN 

When  angels  move  the  pen 
Moved  by  the  hands  of  men, 
What's  written  moves  the  men 
That  moved  the  moving  pen. 


Page  116 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


WOUNDS 

The  wounds  of  a  saber  are  easily  borne 
By  him  who  a  victory  has  sung, 

But  painful  the  wound  of  an  honest  heart 
When  made  by  a  lying  tongue. 


SELF  APPOINTED  JUDGES 

The  tumult  of  the  world  goes  on — the  bitter  strife 
That  mortgages  the  happiness  of  life. 
Deliver  me,  from  those  who  know  not  love,  0  God, 
Yet  sit  in  judgment  with  the  chastening  rod. 


Roland,  Ark. 


Page  117 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


I'D  RATHER  BE  SLAPPED 

I'd  rather  be  slapped  by  Honesty's  hand 
Right  square  in  the  face  forsooth, 

Than  be  caressed  by  the  velvet  paw 
That  strangles  Freedom  and  Truth. 


WHEN  FASHION  RULES 

When  fashion  rules  and  Nature  yields  to  art, 
And  life  is  hurt  by  daily  jar  and  fret, 

'Tis  best  to  shut  our  dreams  close  in  the  heart 
And  go  the  way  alone — love  and  forget. 


Lcadville,  Colo.,  1890. 


Paijf  US 


OF  AN  ENGINEER 


THE  DEVIL'S  CORKSCREW 

The  corkscrew  of  the  devil — 

That's  whiskey. 
Just  to  fool  with  it — and  fool — 

That's  risky. 
Once  he  gets  his  corkscrew  in 

A-la-gin, 
He'll  stick  with  you  on  the  bout 
Till  he's  poured  your  manhood  out, 
And  the  empty  bottle  cast 
On  the  rubbish  heap  at  last. 


Page  119 


^IttlBPt 


Pdoe  m 


DREAMS  AND  VISIONS 


DREAMS  WILL  LIVE 

The  dreams  of  my  life  have  been  many, 
Though  I've  toiled  from  my  youth  alway: 

Yet  I  know  in  my  heart  that  the  dreams  will  live 
When  the  toil  has  passed  away. 


Page  ISZ 


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Ji,  UX4 


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SVc   l\i{/t    IJ.i 


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OF  AN  ENGINEER 


FAREWELL 

'Tis  evening  now,  the  long  dark  night  is  near; 

I'm  satisfied  with  years,  and  God  will  keep 
My  ashes  and  my  Soul.     In  peace  I  rest 

In  the  Creator's  arms  awaiting  sleep. 

I  fear  no  Man-made  hell.    I  seek  no  priest- 
Made  heaven.    Remorse  give  me  no  tear  to  weep. 

God's  laws  are  just.    All  flesh  goes  back  to  dust, 
While  Souls  go  to  the  One  who  gave,  to  keep. 

My  work  is  done — sweet  peace  broods  over  me — 
The  harvest  fields  now  younger  men  must  reap. 

The  good-night  song  of  long-gone  years  I  hear. 
And  in  God's  arms  I'm  being  rocked  to  sleep. 

Life's  fleeting,  joyful  day — how  quickly  closed! 

Locked  eyelids  soon  will  veil  my  earth-day  light. 
Farewell,  bright  world — world  beautiful :  Farewell ! 

My  children  and  my  faithful  wife,  Good-night. 


"I.pst  I  should  pass  suddpniy,  will  now  say  farewell." — Written  on  the  edge 
of  the  paper  on   which   the  verses  were  found. 

Page  12S 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WIUL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  50  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $I.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


DEC  16  1933 


DEC   17  1Q■^^ 


LD  21-100m-7,'33 


^    uo / bU 


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